Pain

"You … you're almost out of mana aren't you?" Aurora lost her temper at Rose, glaring at her while worrying at the same time.

Rose fell to the ground when they were about to perform the spell, gasping and throwing up blood.

"I'm fine." Rose gasped out.

"No, you're not. Your injuries haven't been treated yet, not just that, your Vial is about to become empty. Come here, you idiot." Aurora helped Rose up and made her lean against the wall of the room we were in.

"We need to do this fast. The longer we wait, the lesser memory is available in the blood."

"You seem so adamant about it, Rose. And this is for Miss. Have you taken a liking to her?" Aurora wriggled her eyebrows at Rose, then turned to smile at me.

"Shut up. Are you saying that you won't help her?"

"Why would I ever refuse a request of the Miss? Of course, I will help her, but not at the expense of putting you on death's door. Is that alright, Miss?"

"Do as you see fit," I replied, taking in their appearance for the first time since seeing them again.

Both look like they would fall at any moment and just drop dead, especially Rose. She has lines under her eyes and dark patches all over her face and body besides the obvious wounds and bruises.

"Ok then, Miss. Just give me a minute." Aurora walked to the other side of the room and castle, away from our line of sight. Caris was around the bodies, inspecting each of them for clues, as he said.

What is she planning?

Rose groaned as she coughed up blood again, her body shivered once her coughs subsided. She wrapped her hands around her body, almost as if she felt cold while she groaned and tried to take in painful breaths.

Man, she looks so pitiful. Her Vial must be so close to being empty for her to be suffering like this.

Is it that bad? She looks like she is in a lot of pain.

She most certainly is in a lot of pain. For Magic Holders, empty Vials mean a very slow and painful death. Her's isn't empty yet but, judging by her reaction, it's very close. I'm impressed though.

Why?

Even half-empty Vials can exhaust a person, she is behaving like it's a mere fever. Others would have screamed for four hours then die as the Vial slowly cracks, filling with blood. It's not a pretty sight, I'll tell you this.

Isn't there anything you can do?

She seems like she uses rare magic, we need specific mana to fill her Vial but, there is something I can do.

We walked to the trembling woman and Kefi stretched out hand out to her chest. Rose has her arms wrapped tightly around it like she was trying to protect it.

"W-what are you doing?" Rose asked, her voice trembling.

"Just trust me here," I said, pulling her hand away. Surprisingly, she complied.

Right in between her breasts, I placed my hand and let Kefi take care of the rest.

The warmth of my body slowly flowed out to my fingertips and into Rose. Her wounds closed up and colour came back to her skin. Her breathing also steadied, it wasn't like she wasn't in pain anymore.

That is a relief but … why do I feel every muscle and bone in her body as it repairs itself?

That's just the perks, Meraki. You'll get used to it soon enough.

Fine. It just feels weird.

I was like that too the first time I did that. Though all we are doing is curing her physical wounds, once it is done, she will still feel the pain because of her almost empty Vial.

Isn't this almost empty Vial destroying her from the inside? Once we finish, her body will start degrading again right?

Yup … You want us to do more, don't you?

After going through the trouble of curing her while feeling all movements of her muscles and bones, I feel like it will be such a waste if she gets hurt all over again.

Pfftt. Alright, I can't fill her Vial but we can help with the injuries and pain.

We're taking some of it onto ourselves, aren't we?

I just love our dynamic. You understand me without my having to say a word.

… Right, just hurry up and get this over with.

At first, everything flowed out of me but now, something began to enter my body. It was like little pricking needles, in the beginning, then it became painful without warning.

Every little part of my body hurt, parts of my body I didn't notice were there and took for granted. I couldn't move, even taking in a breath hurt so I had to do it slowly.

I'll never take breathing without pain for granted anymore, I promise.

I sat on the ground, my hand still in between Rose's breasts while I tried to steady my trembling body.

From the looks of her face, she is doing better. I have hardly taken half of what she is feeling but … it's fine. Something is better than nothing.

Aurora, hurry up.

I saw black spots all around my vision and had to keep shaking my head so that they do not engulf me.

"Miss! I'm back!" Aurora appeared in my narrow line of vision, another person standing behind her.

"Thank God." I blurt out. So this is relief. I don't wish to ever experience that again.

"Jasmine?" Rose shot up, accidentally pushing me back and my hand dropped from its position.

In a split second, the blood drained from Rose's face and she bit down to stop the scream that threatened to escape her lips.

"Aurora. Whatever you are about to do, hurry up." I called, gripping my throbbing hand while facing my back to her.

"Rose." The other woman ran to her and pulled out of the bag on the waist, a little glass bottle of blue liquid.

She bit the cork out with her teeth and made Rose drink it. She had beautiful blonde hair that is tied in a loose ponytail as worry etched in her face. Rose also looked more at ease seeing her there.

Kefi.

Yes?

She cannot know about this.

Why not? It's not like it's something bad.

Promise me, Kefi. She should not know about this. Promise me.

Ok. Ok. Fine. We need to hide that hand first, she will know instantly if she sees it.

Looking down at my hand, I could understand why Kefi would say that. Just like when you hit yourself on a hard surface, and the area turns bluish-black, sometimes purple, my entire hand has turned that colour and the veins are popping out as well.

Fortunately, this coat is long-sleeved. I can just keep my hands in the pocket, that will hide it.

Ok.

"Mis-Meraki! Are you ok? No injuries I hope." Aurora walked up to me, still looking very tired.

"No. I'm fine," I said, standing up and shoving my hands into the pockets. "You look worse for wear."

"You think so? I haven't been getting much rest really so I guess it shows in my face." Aurora smiled, scratching the back of her head.

"Who is that?" I asked, jutting my chin to the woman she brought. "Part of the Society?"

But then, she isn't wearing the white uniform Rose and Aurora wore.

"How did you know? Miss, you're a genius."

Really? It was just a guess.

"Is she on vacation then?" I asked, looking at her yellow sundress and the little crown of leaves braided in her hair.

"Vacation? We never get a vacation. I brought her from the main headquarters. Why do you ask that?"

"Main headquarters? She isn't wearing a uniform so I am a little confused."

"Not wearing unif- Ahhhh~. Like the white one Rose is wearing? That uniform is only for the Division Four, that is, Rose and I. Jasmine, over there is Division Two. They are the only division that doesn't have a uniform and it makes some of us feel bitter."

"By some, do you mean you?" I looked up at her, raising my eyebrow.

"Well, before. Not anymore. I like my uniform and not having to worry about what to wear the next day. Fewer worries for me."

"Is that why you always wear dress shirts?"

"Yup. Just wear pants, and the dress shirt, done. You look put together without much effort. Miss just wears shirts and pants though."

"Yeah, I don't see the point of trying to look good but that's just me."

"Maybe once you get out into the world you will start worrying more about your looks," Aurora said that with so much hesitation I could help but smile.

She's still scared about that though but she doesn't want me to know. If only she could hide it a little better.

"Uh, Mi-Meraki. I just wanted to say … Well … Uh … You see … I'm glad you are ok and breathing … Not that you weren't breathing before, that would be awful. I would rather die than see that. What I'm trying to say is … Well."

My body turned and took Aurora's hand with my uninjured one, "It's good to see you again, Aurora."

"Mi- Miss!"

"That's what Meraki wanted to say anyway." Kefi laughed, happy with Aurora's response.

"Well," Aurora grabbed our shoulders and looked into our eyes, making Kefi nervous.

"W-what? If you have something to say then say it." She stuttered out.

Aurora smiled sweetly, "I missed you too, Kefi." She pulled us into an embrace, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Thank you for coming back." She sighed out.

"Yeah … Whatever." Kefi said, sinking into the embrace.

"Aurora?"

"Yes?"

"Where's your other arm?"